Good hygiene apron

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to aprons and more particularly disposable aprons usable to promote good hygiene and sanitary conditions.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/389,356, filed Oct. 4, 2010, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

The present invention relates to aprons and more particularly aprons usable to promote good hygiene and sanitary conditions.

Good hygiene is vital in a child care facility both on the part of the staff and the children. Policies, cleaning and daily routines should include strict guidelines for good hygiene. Unsanitary conditions are perpetuated when necessary supplies are out of the reach of day care employees, allowing the children to continually spread germs without proper hygienic conditions. Thus it would be desirable to provide supplies and products that promote hygienic conditions are essential to limiting the contamination and spread of cold and flu viruses, as well as more serious diseases such as H1N1.

Aprons are commonly used by health care providers and child care workers for use as both protective layers for clothing and to assist in transporting supplies in pockets or pouches of the apron.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an apron which may be disposable. The apron has a body with several pockets or pouches with which to carry supplies, goods, etc. There are two straps extending from the body which the wearer can tie behind his or her back to attach the apron to the wearer.

The body of the apron is fabricated from any suitable material, but is preferably a lightweight, non-woven material, such as polypropylene. In some instances when added absorption or strength or durability is required, a second ply or layer may be included.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a sanitary apron for transporting supplies in a hygienically safe manner is provided, the apron including a generally rectangular planar body including pockets on the front of the apron for storing and carrying supplies.

In a further aspect, the apron has at least one pocket, at least two pockets, at least three pockets, or four or more pockets.

In another aspect, an apron for protecting the waist area of a user includes a generally rectangular planar body including a top surface and a bottom surface, and means for attaching the body about a waist of the user for supporting the body on the user.

In another aspect, the straps may further comprise other methods for attaching the apron around the waist of the wearer such as, but not limited to, a snap fastener, a hook and loop fastener, a button with a button hole type fastener.

In a further aspect, the pockets are used to transport medical supplies such as, but not limited to, hand sanitizer, tissues, bandages, and gauze, as well as medical equipment such as, but not limited to, stethoscope, thermometer, and glucometer.

In yet another aspect, the apron allows for immediate, hands-on attention to unsanitary conditions via the use of tissues, hand sanitizer, bandages and other essential supplies. This prevents the spread of germs by having the means at hand to immediately clean up a non-hygienic situation.

A significant advantage of the applicant's apron is its sanitary properties. The apron is economically made of a thin layer of inexpensive non-woven fabric or material. This allows the apron to be discarded after use, preventing the spread of built up germs and disease by the wearer. The apron may be made from an antibacterial or antimicrobial fabric or other antibacterial or antimicrobial material, or a fabric or material which has undergone an antibacterial or antimicrobial treatment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view of the apron with the pockets unfolded.

FIG. 2 is a view of the apron as worn, with the pockets folded and sewn.

As shown in FIG. 1, the apron has a main body 3 (shown here unfolded), and straps 1 and 2 that are used to tie the apron around the wearer's waist.

As shown in FIG. 2, the apron has multiple pockets, 4, 5, 6, 7, on the front capable of carrying necessary supplies. The user attaches the apron around his or her waist by tying straps 1 and 2.

Accordingly, the reader will see that the hygienic apron is extremely effective for its intended purpose. An user such as a day-care worker can maneuver his or herself in many different positions with great freedom of movement while having needed supplies on his or her person. In addition, the hygienic apron would be effective in other professions and activities where there is a need to have supplies at a user's sides. Furthermore, the hygienic apron has the additional advantages in that it is extremely versatile in that:

the split two pocket portion design is easily configured to pockets of different sizes, thus accommodating a wide variety of supplies of different sizes; it can be made in differing sizes to fit the specific physique of different users; it can be made with a belt portion of differing widths, thickness, and circumference to fit the physique of different users; it can be made with a wide variety of fasteners to meet the needs of different users; it can be made with differing apron portion sizes and thickness to meet the needs of an individual user; it can be made from a variety of non-woven materials; it can be made in a variety of colors and fabrics for fashionable design; it is flexible enough to be worn in a variety of environments both natural and unnatural; it is adaptable to many trades, industries, leisure activities, and uses where a person needs to have supplies positioned at his or her side, and, the same person or user needs to be able to move in an unrestricted manner; and it is lightweight, can be stored and transported easily, and can be removed and adorned with great ease.

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions. 

1. A method of promoting good hygiene in a medical or child care facility comprising providing a disposable apron to carry supplies in a hygienic manner.
 2. A disposable, multi-pocketed, hygienic apron suitable for receiving hygienic products comprising: a. a generally planar body; b. multiple pockets on the body; and c. two straps to attach the apron to the wearer, and wherein said apron is made from a non-woven fabric.
 3. The apron of claim 2, wherein said straps further comprise a fastener.
 4. The fastener of claim 3, wherein said fastener is a snap fastener, a hook and loop fastener, a button with a button-hole type fastener.
 5. The apron of claim 2, wherein said apron is made of a material chosen from an antibacterial or antimicrobial fabric, an antibacterial or antimicrobial material, and a fabric or material which has undergone an antibacterial or antimicrobial treatment.
 6. The apron of claim 2, wherein said apron comprises at least two pockets.
 7. The apron of claim 2, wherein said apron comprises at least three pockets.
 8. The apron of claim 2, wherein said apron comprises at least four pockets. 